Tag: cybercrime news

In 2016, we saw an influx of news headlines about data breaches around the world. Whether you were a cybercrime victim yourself or felt the paranoia of becoming one, there’s no doubt that the fear of having your online security compromised is now a realistic threat. When it comes to taking back your security, one of the first steps for protecting your right to privacy is to be aware of the risks that exist. Take a look at some of the biggest cybercrime stories that we saw last year — so you can start taking back your security.

The FBI vs. Apple Case

After the tragic shooting that occurred in San Bernardino, California in December of 2015, a new cybersecurity debate came to the public eye: how far can the government go when it comes to hacking into private devices? After the attack, aUS magistrate judge requested that Apple unlock the iPhone belonging to one of the killers in the hopes of investigating its contents for evidence. The FBI specifically wanted Apple to create a type of backdoor software to only be used with this case. The debate carried on into 2016 as the case between Apple vs. the FBI came to a close, ultimately ending with Apple refusing to unlock the shooter’s iPhone and the FBI using alternative methods to successfully break into the device. At the end of it all, the case begged the question of how far is too far when it comes to government spying — and what else they may be prying into.

The FriendFinder Networks Hack

In October last year, 412 million FriendFinder accounts were exposed as the result of “poor password password practices.” The data stolen included everything from usernames, passwords, email addresses, and even the date of a user’s last visit to the website. The online dating site suffered the attacks as the result of a local file inclusion vulnerability, basically meaning that attackers can control file execution.

LinkedIn Hack

Imagine experiencing a massive data breach not once, but twice in the span of five years. LinkedIn can attest to being victim of that, with 6.5 million encrypted passwords stolen in 2012, and 167 million account credentials stolen last year. A Russian hacker named “Peace” allegedly stole the password and emails and sold them on the dark web. After the attacks, LinkedIn recommended that their customers reset their passwords as a safety precaution.

The Panama Papers

In one of the biggest leaks in history, the Panama Papers proved that even the rich and powerful aren’t safe from the reach of cybercrime. 11.5 million documents were leaked from the database of Mossack Fonseca, one of the largest offshore law firms in the world. Originally obtained by a German newspaper called Süddeutsche Zeitung and ultimately spread to international networks, these documents revealed that 143 people, including Russian president Vladimir Putin, had been utilizing offshore tax havens to secretly harbor millions of dollars. To put it in perspective, the data obtained in the WIkileaks hack of 2010 came in at 1.7 GB of data leaked, whereas the Panama Papers leak racked up a whopping2.6 TB.

Yahoo Data Breach

In September, Yahoo witnessed one of the largest data breaches in history: 500 million user accounts were stolen by a hacker posing as a government official. Yahoo reported that the breach occurred in 2014, but were not aware of it until 2016, and the stolen data included email addresses, names, phone numbers, passwords, and possibly even users’ security questions and answers. Remember the Russian hacker mentioned earlier by the name of “Peace” who was involved with the LinkedIn hack? The Yahoo data breach is reported to be the work of that same hacker. After the attack, Yahoo even came under fire for possibly knowing about this attack earlier than when it was announced — but without informing their users sooner.

At a glance, 2016 showed the world through a string of cybersecurity stories that protecting your data at all costs should be a priority for online users. Whether you fell victim or not, it’s time to start taking back your security by learning from these past attacks so you can help prevent future ones. Stay tuned for more posts in our #TakeBackYourSecurity Week series, and don’t forget that we’re offering 50% off our annual plans to celebrate! Get started today for half the price.

Were you a victim of any of these cybersecurity attacks last year? Let us know in the comments below!